However, it sometimes can combine two or more of techs together, like LWD which is just a mixture of drilling and logging. Technologies and innovations usually add something new to the old tools and methods. Innovative technologies are being made and developed nowadays continuously. Anyway, the rotary was just an example of innovation in the past. However, the newer technique used a rotating drill bit to dig into the ground. Previously, Drake’s method was used that lifted and dropped a drill bit into the well - like a hammer. One of the earliest innovations in drilling was the rotary system, first used in the 1880s. But the development of the automobile industry began a new market for oil. Those days, oil was only used for lighting purposes. In 1859, Edwin Drake dug the first oil well in Pennsylvania. This issue was solved by making fractures in the rock by using water or steam – called fracking or fracturing.ĭrilling has grown through time due to the vast technological developments.

However, reaching the resource is not all in this case as oil or gas are trapped inside the non-porous and non-permeable rocks. Directional and Horizontal drilling has been the major technologies which helped us produce out of these kind of resources. These are oil-gas resources which are not reachable by the old methods, and need new technologies and strategies to become productive. The rest of reserves which are not easy to deal with, are called unconventional. As you know, conventional resources are those pools of hydrocarbon with high porosity and permeability which can easily be drilled and have production, and they only form a fourth of the world’s reserves. One special case which is under debate these days is unconventional resources. Casing, cementing, whole cleaning, drill string, power system were the first items that needed some modification, and so they have been developed a lot since then.įorgetting the good old days of drilling and early developments of directional drilling, this sector has been more under focus during the last 50 years. However, change can be tricky sometimes as problems come along with it. So if they could not do it the same old way, they had to change something, and change is a big word which usually has led human beings to newer things under the shelter of innovation and creativity. In the beginning of the drilling industry, all wells were being penetrated vertically up to the point when they faced some troubles like reaching targets which could not be drilled vertically on the surface. The Directional has had its own story as well. So we need to pay more attention if we would like to keep the industry up-to-date.ĭrilling for petrol has been around for more than a century, and services have always played a big role in it. The industry has a reputation for slow innovation. In the 9th issue of our magazine, we demonstrated that all industries have used technology the best way possible, apart from the oil-gas industry.

Since the appearance of digitals in the 60-70s, all industries have used technology and innovation to leverage themselves to become faster and smarter.

If the 18-19th century was the peak of the Industrial Revolution, the 20-21th century can be called the revolution of innovation.

Innovation, technology, digitalization, inspiration, etc., are some common terms being repeatedly used these days.

Directional drilling technology